Big Devils Stairs – Bushwhack (Rating: A)

You must read the following NVHC Sign-in Sheet Statement/Liability Disclaimer, https://nvhc.com/signin.pdf and then answer the question that you will see when you RSVP with "I accept" to be permitted on the hike.

Hike Overview: This deceivingly short 6-mile out-and-back hike will descend the Big Devils Stairs trail with a bushwhack up the Big Devils Stairs stream bed. The elevation gain is about 1600-1700 feet with lots of climbing, occasionally involving all four limbs. You should be experienced with bushwhacking and climbing rocks to go on this hike.

We start at a small Gravel Springs Gap parking lot on Skyline Drive. We'll travel a short distance on the AT, diverge off to see the Gravel Springs Hut, walk another short distance on the Harris Hollow Trail to the Bluff Trail. We'll hike the Bluff Trail 1.3 mi to the Big Devils Stairs trail and descend that trail to the bottom where we will bushwhack up the stream bed to the Bluff trail then return to the Parking Lot at Skyline Drive.

The picture above is the waterfall on the Big Devils Stairs stream. We'll see this waterfall from above on the Big Devils Stairs trail, the overlook is the normal turn around point of a Big Devils Stairs hike. We'll also lunch at the base of the waterfall on the climb back up.

Leader: Harvey Haines

Rating: A Normally this would be rated a B-hike at (6 mi + 1700ft/400mi/ft = 10.25 eq mi), but the bushwhack makes this hike more difficult, so I've upped the grade one level to an A-hike.

Pace: For most of the hike we will go between 2 & 3 mph. However, it will be slow hiking up the Big Devils Stairs where we'll climb at 1 mph or less.

Trailhead: Meet at the Gravel Springs Gap parking lot between MP 17 & 18 on Skyline Drive (GPS: 38.7678, -78.2336), alternatively if the lot is full, park at Range View Overlook closer to MP 17 and walk the ½ mile down Skyline to Gravel Springs Gap.

Park Entry Fee: $30.

Pets: Because of the terrain no dogs are permitted on this hike.

Map for hike:
Annotated PATC Map 9 cutout:
https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0c6GnyiclUvNh-d3OL4iev06A#Big_Devils_Stairs
GaiaGPS map of hike:
https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=12.7/-78.2234/38.7593&pubLink=dyWxMHumLFYniNagkWV1iQ2G&routeId=f50b00b4-9483-4b6c-9f2e-e9bbe32e7b37

Carpools: Feel free to coordinate carpools in the comments section as parking at Gravel Springs is limited. It's a 1hr 25min drive from the Centreville Park & Ride Lot. Neither the Club nor the hike leaders are responsible for coordinating transportation to/from the trailhead. Hikers are not guaranteed to get a ride to the trailhead from the carpool location. Carpooling is organized by the participants and they participate at their own risk.

Description from the PATC Appalachian Trail Guide to Shenandoah National Park:
The Big Devils Stairs canyon is one of the most impressive features of Shenandoah National Park. Originally the trail followed through the canyon. Due to flooding which obliterated the trail on a regular basis, a relocation was performed which situated the trail on [the] east rim of the canyon. With caution, one can climb along the stream all the way through. The old route up the canyon is not recommended for young children due to the rough going. The present trail should be traveled with caution with children due to the sheer cliffs along the east rim which follow[s] the trail for most of its length.